Tag Archives: Jews

My secular Shabbat

Posted on 2019-06-25 by

Readers of this blog will have noticed that I am a radical Atheist. But there is one religious idea that I have incorporated in my life, although in a secular version. It’s the idea of the shabbat, the 7th day … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Philosophy, Religion, Technology | Tagged , , , , | 40 Comments

A Walk around Tbilisi

Posted on 2019-02-22 by

Each year for my birthday, I like to explore a new country, preferably alone. In July 2017, I treated myself to a trip to the Caucasus (and ended up celebrating my 42nd birthday with the former president of Azerbaijan). The … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Georgia, History, Islam, Military, Photography, Religion, Travel, World War II | Tagged , , , | 51 Comments

How to keep the Jehova’s Witnesses at bay

Posted on 2017-02-06 by

Remembering in how many countries the Jehova’s Witnesses have already visited me at home could almost make me paranoid: in Germany, England, Malta, Lithuania, Italy, Romania, Bolivia and Peru. In Sicily and in Romania they showed up within days after me moving in, … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, Religion, Travel | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

A Walk around Iași

Posted on 2017-01-04 by

I only spent one day in Iași in the far east of Romania, which is the far east of Europe for most of my readers anyway, when I was on the way back from Moldova, even further east. But fear not, … Continue reading →

Posted in Films, History, Holocaust, Language, Photography, Religion, Romania, Travel | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments

German history follows me all the way to Bolivia

Posted on 2016-02-19 by

A few days ago in Santa Cruz in eastern Bolivia: The Orient Express on which I had come from San José de Chiquitos even further in the east of the country was delayed by an hour, so I had to hurry to get to the airport to catch … Continue reading →

Posted in Bolivia, German Law, Germany, History, Holocaust, Immigration Law, Law, Travel, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

The Ghetto of Venice

Posted on 2015-09-21 by

Venice has the dubious distinction of being home to the world’s original ghetto, the area where in 1516 all the city’s Jews were ordered to move to. This came on top of other economic and social restraints, although the oppression was still … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Holocaust, Italy, Photography, Religion, Travel | Tagged , , | 8 Comments